MUNCIE, Ind. (WANE) – Ball State took to the practice field for the first time under new head coach Mike Neu on Tuesday as the Cardinals opened spring practice.

Neu was hired back in January to replace Pete Lembo. Lembo left Ball State after five seasons to be the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator at Maryland.

Ball State went 3-9 last fall but returns nine starters on defense and six on offense. That includes quarterback Riley Neal, who threw for 2,276 passing yards and 16 touchdown as a true freshman.

Neu has 15 years of coaching experience, the last two as quarterbacks coach of the New Orleans Saints. He was a four-year starter at quarterback during his playing days at Ball State and was named the Vern Smith Award winners at the MAC’s most valuable player as a senior in 1993.

Ball State’s spring game is set for April 23.

The Cardinals open the 2016 season at Georgia State the first weekend in September.